As we begin to explore this play (musical?) please note that it recently ran at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles honoring the 25th anniversary of the original opening. See the Public Broadcasting short video on this subject.
This module explores the play Zoot Suit and The Zoot Suit Riots as illustrations of how play productions and video documentaries are inspired by material that happens in real life but differs in execution and intent owing to the media in which they are presented. It highlights the history of Chicano theatre in the USA and the place of Zoot Suit and the playwright in that history. In Act 1, Scene 3 of Hamlet Shakespeare has Polonius say of his son, “the apparel oft proclaims the man.” We see that dress and hair style often are used as markers of identity resulting in positive and sometimes negative outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
By participating in this module, a student will be able to:
1. List the possible reasons that led to the Zoot Suit riots in Los Angeles
2. Identify the unique characteristic of Chicano Theatre that are evident in the composition of the play
3. Outline the history of Chicano theatre in the USA and the place of Zoot Suit in that history
4. Distinguish the differences between the documentary of the Zoot Suit Riots and the play in terms of techniques of presentation and focus on the characters and the facts
5. Summarize the educational value of producing the play with high school students
Tasks:
In the course packet Read "History of Chicano Theatre in the USA," pages 13-14 and "Mexican-American Theatre," pages 53-62. Also, read Cuban-American theatre (pages 15-16), Hispanic theatre (pages 25-26), and Puerto Rican Theatre on the Mainland (pages 79-93).
11.1 Based on your reconsideration of the material above, discuss the place of Zoot Suit in the history of Chicano theatre in the USA on a separate page connected to your Portfolio.
11.4 After seeing the Making of Zoot Suit, answer questions about the effort of students in Monterey County, California schools to employ the event and the play into a production. Answer questions about this on the HS Creation page. Additional Resources:
As we begin to explore this play (musical?) please note that it recently ran at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles honoring the 25th anniversary of the original opening. See the Public Broadcasting short video on this subject.
This module explores the play Zoot Suit and The Zoot Suit Riots as illustrations of how play productions and video documentaries are inspired by material that happens in real life but differs in execution and intent owing to the media in which they are presented. It highlights the history of Chicano theatre in the USA and the place of Zoot Suit and the playwright in that history. In Act 1, Scene 3 of Hamlet Shakespeare has Polonius say of his son, “the apparel oft proclaims the man.” We see that dress and hair style often are used as markers of identity resulting in positive and sometimes negative outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
By participating in this module, a student will be able to:
1. List the possible reasons that led to the Zoot Suit riots in Los Angeles
2. Identify the unique characteristic of Chicano Theatre that are evident in the composition of the play
3. Outline the history of Chicano theatre in the USA and the place of Zoot Suit in that history
4. Distinguish the differences between the documentary of the Zoot Suit Riots and the play in terms of techniques of presentation and focus on the characters and the facts
5. Summarize the educational value of producing the play with high school students
Tasks:
In the course packet Read "History of Chicano Theatre in the USA," pages 13-14 and "Mexican-American Theatre," pages 53-62. Also, read Cuban-American theatre (pages 15-16), Hispanic theatre (pages 25-26), and Puerto Rican Theatre on the Mainland (pages 79-93).
11.1 Based on your reconsideration of the material above, discuss the place of Zoot Suit in the history of Chicano theatre in the USA on a separate page connected to your Portfolio.
See the documentary The Zoot Suit Riots and Pachucos during WWII.
11.2 Reply to questions posed about the documentaries you have seen on the Riots page.
11.3 Read the Viewers Guide to productions of Zoot Suit then see one of the full length presentations of Zoot Suit and complete the Zoot Suit Worksheet after having done so.
See the Making of Zoot Suit
11.4 After seeing the Making of Zoot Suit, answer questions about the effort of students in Monterey County, California schools to employ the event and the play into a production. Answer questions about this on the HS Creation page.
Additional Resources:
Discovery Guide to Zoot Suit http://research.pomona.edu/zootsuit/
Please submit your work on this play no later than 12:01am, Sunday, April 8. Thanks!